Check my vids or biljartkaitzer’s whipshots collection, you’ll see that neither of us draws the cue back, the proper technique is a “weightless” stroke, this means that no additional weight from your hand grip comes to play (pressure on the cuebutt means additional weight). I get that by holding the cue just with middle finger and thumb, the weight of the cueball is enough to make your cue squirt and get out of the way.

It is a myth that most players try to keep it level as possible. The try to keep the cue on the same plane, be it a few degrees above level or what not. It’s never jacked up high in the air, but it is FAR from level as possible for most pros.